Results 10,721-10,740 of 26,787 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (27 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (27 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government commits to ensuring that Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) levels are adequate to support vulnerable households, while we increase the supply of social housing. Under Housing for All, my Department was tasked with undertaking an analytical exercise to examine whether an increase in the level of discretion available to Local Authorities under HAP was required. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (27 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process. Data in relation to levels of vacancy, average turnaround times and reasons associated with this are not routinely collated by my Department. However, statistics in relation to the social housing stock are published...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (27 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022. The...

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I did not say that. I said in this legislation there is no provision to extend it.

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: What kind of house is the Deputy referring to?

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Does the Deputy get trolled?

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Subject to being passed in the Dáil and Seanad, the legislation will take effect from 1 November and will apply to notices to quit issued from that date onwards. That is very clear in what we are doing. It is because of the potential for challenge that we crafted this Bill really carefully with the advice of the Attorney General and his office as to what would stand up to such a...

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Well, the Deputy asked me again.

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I have given the Deputy the answer already. Whether he likes it or not, we have to balance the rights and protections of the tenant and the rights of the property owner. This is a very significant short-term intervention to provide needed protections. I believe the balance has been struck correctly so that the legislation cannot be successfully challenged. This is not a silver bullet....

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Deputies for their contributions. At the outset I also want to thank all of the Deputies for their support for this very important legislation which needs to come in expeditiously and urgently. That is the reason for the truncated nature of the Committee and Remaining Stages, which the Members understand. I need to get this legislation into the...

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Okay. While I am dealing with the amendment specifically, I will also deal with some of the points that have been raised. I will certainly look at a local authority circular, as raised by Deputy Ó Broin. I know, and the Deputy has acknowledged, that it is a different time and is a different measure we are taking. I am already engaged, however, with our local authorities on how social...

Social and Affordable Housing Supply: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett and his colleagues for tabling this motion. I fully accept the bona fides of what is in the motion and of the Deputy Boyd Barrett's perspective. I do not agree with everything in the motion, although there are parts with which I do agree. I will say to Deputy Connolly that there is nothing in the five-page counter motion that is incorrect. That is factual. She...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 94 together. A copy of the correspondence referenced has been received by my Department and a response will issue in due course. The table below sets out detail of open cases where the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) have issued judgments against the State in areas that fall within the responsibility of my Department. CJEU...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 88 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 304 of 25 October 2022 which sets out the position in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Departments Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, through Exchequer funding, delivers improvements to private domestic water and waste water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public (Irish Water) water/waste water services. During the 2016-2018 funding cycle, Kerry County Council were allocated funding of €1,957,550 and €739,824 was paid to the Council by my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Kerry County Council has been allocated funding of €53,550 under my Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme for the Community Water Connection referred to in the details supplied. It is now a matter for the local authority working with the community to arrange completion of the project. I understand that the local authority have completed the process of planning the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In Ireland, we currently have an array of sites that have been designated for the conservation of species and habitats listed under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and the Wildlife Acts. In the sea, such sites amount to currently 2.1% of our extensive Maritime Area, with a high proportion of the conserved sites being situated around our coasts and offshore islands, and in numerous bays...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is a key initiative which underpins...